The Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to John Jude Agbo, a man standing trial over an alleged plot to carry out attacks on schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected Agbo’s bail application after the Department of State Services (DSS) concluded its case by presenting its fourth and final witness.
Agbo is facing charges bordering on terrorism and cybercrime over allegations that he planned coordinated attacks on several schools, targeting students, teachers and educational facilities.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the defence failed to provide sufficient assurances that the defendant would not abscond if released on bail.
She subsequently ordered that Agbo remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) pending the conclusion of his trial.
Earlier in the proceedings, a DSS operative, who testified as the prosecution’s fourth witness, told the court that investigations uncovered an alleged conspiracy involving Agbo and others to attack multiple schools across the FCT.
The witness said investigators analysed messages allegedly sent to the affected schools, in which the suspects demanded large sums of money and threatened to launch attacks if the payments were not delivered to specified locations.
During the hearing, the prosecution tendered an audio-visual recording of Agbo’s interview with DSS investigators.
The court admitted the recording into evidence and played it in open court before the prosecution formally closed its case.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until September 24 for the defendant to open his defence.
